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"Puppet of the Cologne cellar": Heynemann criticism of the VAR

Former soccer referee Bernd Heynemann / Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa/Archivbild
Former soccer referee Bernd Heynemann / Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa/Archivbild

Bernd Heynemann turned 70 on Monday. He still follows soccer passionately, and he also has an opinion. Especially about the video referee.

Former FIFA referee Bernd Heynemann has once again criticized the handling of the video referee. There are now five men in the basement in Cologne, which is far too many, the Magdeburg native, who turned 70 on Monday, told the Volksstimme newspaper. "The way it's being handled now is driving people crazy. And the impartial referee on the pitch is becoming a puppet of the Cologne cellar," said Heynemann.

The current politician, who still referees matches as a hobby, believes the name alone is misleading. "The name VAR alone is wrong. It's not a referee, but an assistant referee, and should only intervene in the event of clearly incorrect decisions," said Heynemann. He described himself as a "critical companion" when it comes to video referees.

The 1998 Referee of the Year is equally critical of local second division club 1. FC Magdeburg. "At the lower end of the target," says Heynemann of the club, which won 1-0 against Wehen Wiesbaden on Sunday. Things are getting tight, especially with the lack of a striker. Both Magdeburg center forwards were missing against SVWW, the goal was scored by substitute Tatsuya Ito.

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